Moving to Suriname from Jamaica

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Jamaica to Suriname? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Jamaica to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Suriname compared to Jamaica.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JM
53.3
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JM
17.8
SR
16.2

Suriname performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JM
$869
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JM
5.5
SR
14.8

Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JM
22.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JM
2.8t
SR
4.1t

Jamaica performs better than Suriname across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JM
15.0
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JM
12.4%
SR
4.0%

Suriname generally does better on infrastructure, though Jamaica leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JM
4.4%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JM
$10,300
SR
$19,000

Jamaica generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JM
75.8 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JM
11.2
SR
30.2

Jamaica generally does better on family life, though Suriname leads in literacy rate.

Data: Tax Admministration of Jamaica, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

Paramaribo Rain: 84.6 in/yr (2148 mm)
92° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kingston Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Kingston Paramaribo
Jan 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Jamaica and Suriname. To live, work, or study long-term in Suriname, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Suriname's immigration authority.

Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Jamaica passport holders can enter Suriname without a visa.
Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Jamaica

Visa Free
Suriname passport holders can enter Jamaica without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Suriname?

Connectivity is usually fine (Suriname: 20.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Suriname offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Suriname performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 53.3 in Jamaica.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Jamaica?

Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 14.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 5.5 in Jamaica. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jamaica: 74).

What's the weather like in Suriname compared to Jamaica?

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.

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At a Glance

JM SR
Population 2,818,596 632,638
Currency Jamaican Dollar (JMD) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages English, Jamaican Patois Dutch
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +1 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119